Yahoo News Fact Check: Alleged Biden Quote About Federal Aid for Hurricane Helene Victims Is Missing Context
Claim:
On Sept. 30, 2024, U.S. President Joe Biden said the federal government would not be sending additional aid to help victims of Hurricane Helene.
Rating:
Context:
A reporter asked Biden, "Are there any more resources the federal government could be giving [victims]?" He responded "no" and that the federal government had already set aside aid for states hit by the hurricane, "even though they [hadn't asked] for it yet." In other words, he did not say the government would not be sending more aid in the future. Rather, in full context, his statement claimed his administration had already given "everything we have."
As Hurricane Helene left widespread destruction across the U.S. Southeast, killing more than 150 people, a purported quote by U.S. President Joe Biden went viral among his critics. They claimed he said the federal government would not be sending additional aid to help victims of the storm.
Posts with the alleged quote included real video footage of Biden speaking to reporters. One post captioned the clip, "The Biden-Harris will not be giving any more federal aid to the victims of Hurricane Helene. Those resources are intended for Zelensky [sic], I guess," in reference to U.S. support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.
(X user @stillgray)
The accusation missed context offered by Biden's full quote — information that makes the claim an erroneous interpretation of what he actually said.
In the video, Biden did not say his administration would not be giving additional aid to victims of the hurricane. Rather, in full context, he claimed there aren't additional resources that the federal government could send to states affected by the storm because it had allegedly already given "everything we have."
A reporter asked Biden, "Are there any more resources the federal government could be giving [victims]?" He responded "no" and immediately followed that answer with a claim that the federal government had supposedly already set aside "a significant amount" of resources for victims, "even though they [hadn't asked] for it yet."
The exchange took place on Sept. 30, 2024, and is available on the White House's website as an official transcript (emphasis ours):
Q: Do you have any words for the victims of the hurricane?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, it's tragic. As a matter of fact, they're trying to get the exact number. My FEMA adviser is on the ground in Florida right now. There's a distinction between the numbers that FEMA has used and the ones used by — by the locals.
So, it's — it really is amazing. You saw the photographs. It's stunning.
Q: So many —
THE PRESIDENT: But — but it really is.
Q: So many — so — such a wide area.
THE PRESIDENT: And we — we gave — are giving them all the — all — everything we have. Were on the ground ahead of time. So, we're working hard.
Q: Are there any more resources the federal government could be giving them?
THE PRESIDENT: No. We've given them — we have preplanned a significant amount of it, even though they didn't ask for it yet — had — hadn't asked for it yet.
Hours after that conversation, Biden said in a statement on social media: "I've directed my team to provide every available resource as fast as possible to your communities. To rescue, recover and to begin rebuilding."
https://www.instagram.com/potus/reel/DAjftk9N4h7/
Hypothetically speaking, if the claim were true — if Biden had said on Sept. 30 that the federal government would not be sending additional help to hurricane victims — he did not keep his promise. On Oct. 2, the president announced 1,000 active-duty troops would be deployed to assist with storm-recovery efforts, as well as other resources to supposedly help the states. Per a White House fact sheet:
More than 4,800 personnel from across the Federal workforce are deployed and supporting state-led response efforts across the region. FEMA and other agencies have more than 1,200 personnel in North Carolina, with more resources and staff arriving daily.
Search and rescue efforts by state, local, and Federal partners are ongoing, and nearly 600 additional personnel are arriving in the region in the coming days, increasing the total number of Urban Search and Rescue personnel to over 1,250.
Also, Biden said he plans to ask Congress to pass legislation that would set aside more funds for Hurricane Helene relief efforts.
Sources:
"FACT SHEET: UPDATE: Biden-Harris Continues Life-Saving Response Efforts in Response to Hurricane Helene." The White House, 2 Oct. 2024, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/10/02/fact-sheet-update-biden-harris-continues-life-saving-response-efforts-in-response-to-hurricane-helene/." target="blank">https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/10/02/fact-sheet-update-biden-harris-continues-life-saving-response-efforts-in-response-to-hurricane-helene/.">https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/10/02/fact-sheet-update-biden-harris-continues-life-saving-response-efforts-in-response-to-hurricane-helene/. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.
Gangitano, Alex. "Biden May Call Congress Back for Hurricane Helene Funding." The Hill, 30 Sept. 2024, https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4907140-biden-expects-supplemental-bill-hurricane-relief/." target="blank">https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4907140-biden-expects-supplemental-bill-hurricane-relief/.">https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4907140-biden-expects-supplemental-bill-hurricane-relief/. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.
"Remarks by President Biden Before Air Force One Departure | Dover, DE." The White House, 30 Sept. 2024, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/09/30/remarks-by-president-biden-before-air-force-one-departure-dover-de/." target="blank">https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/09/30/remarks-by-president-biden-before-air-force-one-departure-dover-de/.">https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/09/30/remarks-by-president-biden-before-air-force-one-departure-dover-de/. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.
"Supplies Arrive by Plane and by Mule in North Carolina as Helene's Death Toll Tops 130." AP News, 30 Sept. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-helene-north-carolina-asheville-f02869c7d01e68f2d7f0553abb82252f." target="blank">https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-helene-north-carolina-asheville-f02869c7d01e68f2d7f0553abb82252f.">https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-helene-north-carolina-asheville-f02869c7d01e68f2d7f0553abb82252f. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.
Watson, Kathryn, and Caitlin Yilek. Biden Says He Plans to Visit Areas Devastated by Helene in North Carolina on Wednesday - CBS News. 1 Oct. 2024, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-biden-north-carolina-visit-hurricane-helene-damage/." target="blank">https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-biden-north-carolina-visit-hurricane-helene-damage/.">https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-biden-north-carolina-visit-hurricane-helene-damage/. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.
